108 Tirupathi Anthathi (English translation)
by Sri Varadachari Sadagopan | 285,952 words
The English translation of the “108 Tirupathi Anthathi”, which enumerates the Divya Desams or “sacred places of Lord Vishnu” celebrated by the Alvars—a group of twelve Tamil poet-saints from South India. It is also known for its intricate poetry and devotion. It was originally written by Sri Pillai Perumal Iyengar as part of his series of eight Pra...
Verse 104: Mathura (or, Thiruvadamadurai Divya Desam)
Tamil text and transliteration:
திருவட மதுரை:—
செல்வம் உயிர் உடம்பு சேர உரித்தாக்கி
வல்வினையை நீக்குமினோ மாந்தர்காள் தொல்லை
வடமதுரையான் கழலே வாய்த்த தஞ்சம் என்று
திடமது உரை செய்தான் திறத்து (104)
tiruvaṭa maturai:—
celvam uyir uṭampu cēra urittākki
valviṉaiyai nīkkumiṉō māntarkāḷ tollai
vaṭamaturaiyāṉ kaḻalē vāytta tañcam eṉṟu
tiṭamatu urai ceytāṉ tiṟattu (104)
திருவடமதுரை:—
செல்வ முயுருடம்பு சேர வுரித்தாக்கி
வல்வினையி னீங்குமினோ மாந்தர்காள்! - தொல்லை
வடமதுரை யான்கழலே வாய்த்தஞ்ச மென்று
திடமதுரை செய்தான் றிறத்து. (104)
tiruvaṭamaturai:—
celva muyuruṭampu cēra vurittākki
valviṉaiyi ṉīṅkumiṉō māntarkāḷ! -tollai
vaṭamaturai yāṉkaḻalē vāyttañca meṉṟu
tiṭamaturai ceytāṉ ṟiṟattu. (104)
English rendering
Author: ‘SrI nrsimha sevA rasikan’ Oppiliappan Koil SrI VaradAchAri Sadagopan Swami
English meaning of verse:
Oh human beings buffeted by the fierce waves of samsAram! Our Lord incarnated as Krshnan at VaDa Madurai and blessed us with the firm upadeSam to seek Him alone as our protector and that He will come to your rescue without fail to get rid of all samsAric sorrows. Oh suffering jIvans filled with ahankAram and mamakAram! Place at the sacred feet of the Lord of VaDa Madurai all your wealth (possessions), body and soul and live without any fear and worries!
Special points:
All the three divya deSams of MathurA, BrndAvan and Govardhanam are included as one divya deSam with the name of VaDa Madurai. The kshetram is 2 miles from the city of MathurA. BrndAvan is 6 miles from MathurA, while Govardhanam is 9 miles from MathurA.
PerumAL GovardaneSan, standing, facing east; tAyAr is SatyabhAma; Govardhana VimAnam; tIrtham -Yamuna river; pratyaksham to devAs and others.
There ar 50 pAsurams on the three VaDa Madurai divya desam blessed to us: PeriyAzhvAr (16), ANDAL (19), ToNDaraDippoDi (1), Tirumangai AzhvAr (4) and SvAmi NammAzhvAr (10).
Guide to 108 Divya Desams
Author: Mr. T. Sampath Kumaran
MATHURA (Tiru Vadamadurai).—This Divya kshetram is in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. This is one of the holiest pilgrim centers in India. Mathura is on the banks of the River Yamuna.
The legend has it that Sathrughna the brother of Lord Rama after vanquishing the demon king Lavanasura built this city of Mathura. The Govardhanagiri hill is closby and the famous Brindavan, where Krishna performed Raas Lila, is at 10 Kms away.
The main temple is Rangamandir. The moolavar is Govardhanesan also called Balakrishnan. The Thayar is Satyabhama Nachiyar. The Theertham is Yamuna Nadi and the Vimanam Govardhana Vimanam. There are more than thousand temples and 35 ghats in this shetram. The Govindadev temple and Sri Krishnaji temple, Githa Mandir are a must to visit.
Azhwar Mangalaasaasanam:
Periyaazhwar–16, 277, 264-74, 341, 399, 430
Andaal–478, 538, 539, 560, 569, 617, 624, 634, 637-46
Tondaradipodiaazhwar–916
Tirumangai Azhwar–1512, 1527, 1833, 2673 (74)
Nammaazhwar–3439, 3499, 3559-66 (pasuram numbers as found in Naalaayira Divya prabhandam)
Sri Ramanuja sampradaya, Nimbarka Vaishnava sampradaya, Madhva sampradaya, Vallabha and Chaitanya traditions are being practiced in this kshetram.
Tamil commentary (Vyakhyana)
Title: Nutrettu Thiruppathi Andadhi Vyakhyanam;
Author: Vai Mu Satakoparamanujachariar Swami [Satakopa Ramanujachariar]
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Tamil text.]
(Meaning.) Māntarkāḷ (maṉitarkaḷē) – O mortals! – (to everyone),
"Kaḻalē (kaḻalē) – My feet themselves,
Vāytta Tancam (vāytta tañcam) – are the fitting refuge," thus –
Tiṭamatu Uraicceytāṉ (tiṭamatu uraiceytāṉ) – the one who strongly declared,
Tollai Vaṭamaturaiyāṉ Tiṟattu (tollai vaṭamaturaiyāṉ tiṟattu) – towards the ancient (primeval God) who was born in North Mathura –
Celvam (celvam) – (Your) wealth,
Uyir (uyir) – life (prāṇa),
Uṭampu (uṭampu) – body,
Cēra (cēra) – simultaneously,
Urittu Ākki (urittu ākki) – dedicating them as an offering,
Val Viṉaiyiṉ Nīṅkumiṉ (val viṉaiyiṉ nīṅkumiṉ) – be freed from the strong troubles of the two types of karma (good and bad). (End of meaning.)
(இ – ள்.) மாந்தர்காள் – மனிதர்களே! – (அனைவர்க்கும்),
“கழலே – எனது திருவடிகள்தாம்,
வாய்த்த தஞ்சம் – பொருந்திய ரக்ஷகமாகும்,’ என்று -,
திடம்அது உரைசெய்தான் – உறுதியாக உபதேசித்தவனும்,
தொல்லை வடமதுரையான் திறத்து – பழமையான (முதற்கடவுளான) வடமதுரையிற் பிறந்தவனுமாகிய பெருமானிடத்தில், –
செல்வம் – (நுமது) செல்வங்களையும்,
உயிர் – பிராணனையும்,
உடம்பு – உடம்பையும்,
சேர – ஒருசேர,
உரித்து ஆக்கி – உரியனவாகச் சமர்ப்பித்து,
வல் வினையின் நீங்குமின் – வலிய இருவினைத் தொல்லைகளினின்று நீங்குங்கள்; (எ – று.)
(i – ḷ.) māntarkāḷ – maṉitarkaḷē! – (aṉaivarkkum),
“kaḻalē – eṉatu tiruvaṭikaḷtām,
vāytta tañcam – poruntiya rakṣakamākum,’ eṉṟu -,
tiṭamatu uraiceytāṉ – uṟutiyāka upatēcittavaṉum,
tollai vaṭamaturaiyāṉ tiṟattu – paḻamaiyāṉa (mutaṟkaṭavuḷāṉa) vaṭamaturaiyiṟ piṟantavaṉumākiya perumāṉiṭattil, –
celvam – (numatu) celvaṅkaḷaiyum,
uyir – pirāṇaṉaiyum,
uṭampu – uṭampaiyum,
cēra – orucēra,
urittu ākki – uriyaṉavākac camarppittu,
val viṉaiyiṉ nīṅkumiṉ – valiya iruviṉait tollaikaḷiṉiṉṟu nīṅkuṅkaḷ; (e – ṟu.)
(i – l.) mantharkal – manitharkale! – (anaivarkkum),
“kazhale – enathu thiruvadigaltham,
vaytha thancham – porunthiya ragshagamagum,’ enru -,
thidamathu uraiseythan – uruthiyaga upathesithavanum,
thollai vadamathuraiyan thirathu – pazhamaiyana (mutharkadavulana) vadamathuraiyir piranthavanumagiya perumanidathil, –
selvam – (numathu) selvangalaiyum,
uyir – pirananaiyum,
udambu – udambaiyum,
sera – orusera,
urithu akki – uriyanavagas samarppithu,
val vinaiyin ningumin – valiya iruvinaith thollaigalininru ningungal; (e – ru.)
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Tamil text.]
It is an instruction to the people of the world that, after setting aside all means such as Karma, Jñānam, Bhakti, and Prapatti, they should dedicate their body, wealth, and life simultaneously to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Bhagavān, who instructed them to take refuge only in His feet, and by His grace, they shall be freed from the troubles of the two kinds of karma and attain salvation.
கர்மம் ஜ்ஞாநம் பக்தி ப்ரபத்தி முதலிய உபாயங்களையெல்லாம் ஒழித்துத் தனது திருவடிகளையே தஞ்சமாகப்
பற்றும்படி உபதேசித்த ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ண பகவான்திறத்தில் உமது உடல் பொருள் ஆவி அனைத்தையும் ஒருசேர அர்ப்பணம்பண்ணி,
அப்பிரானருளால் இருவினைத் தொல்லைகளினின்றும் நீங்கி உய்வுபெறுவீர்களென்று உலகத்தார்க்கு உபதேசித்தவாறு,
karmam jñānam pakti prapatti mutaliya upāyaṅkaḷaiyellām oḻittut taṉatu tiruvaṭikaḷaiyē tañcamākap
paṟṟumpaṭi upatēcitta srīkiruṣṇa pakavāṉtiṟattil umatu uṭal poruḷ āvi aṉaittaiyum orucēra arppaṇampaṇṇi,
appirāṉaruḷāl iruviṉait tollaikaḷiṉiṉṟum nīṅki uyvupeṟuvīrkaḷeṉṟu ulakattārkku upatēcittavāṟu,
karmam jgnanam pagthi prapathi muthaliya upayangalaiyellam ozhithuth thanathu thiruvadigalaiye thanchamagap
parrumbadi upathesitha srigirushna pagavanthirathil umathu udal porul avi anaithaiyum orusera arppanambanni,
appiranarulal iruvinaith thollaigalininrum ningi uyvuperuvirkalenru ulagatharkku upathesithavaru,
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Tamil text.]
Even though the Lord in His ultimate verse (Carama Śloka) said, "Sarvadharmān Parityajya – Māmēkam Saraṇaṃ Vraja" ("Abandon all dharmas and take refuge only in Me") thereby declaring Himself as the sole protector to be attained, since the appropriate resort for the dependent being (Śeṣabhūtan) is the feet of the Master (Śeṣi), the phrase "kaḻalē vāyttatañcam eṉṟu tiṭamatu uraicceytāṉ" ('declared strongly that the feet themselves are the fitting refuge') was used.
“ஸர்வதர்மாந் பரித்யஜ்ய – மாமேகம்ஸரணம்வ்ரஜ” என்று அப்பிரான் சரமஸ்லோகத்தில் தன்னையே ரக்ஷகமாக
அடையுமாறு கூறியிருக்கவும், ஸேஷபூதன் இழியுந் துறை ஸேஷியின் திருவடிகளே யாதலால்,
‘கழலே வாய்த்ததஞ்சமென்று திடமது உரைசெய்தான்’ என்றார்.
“sarvatarmān parityajya – māmēkamsaraṇamvraja” eṉṟu appirāṉ caramaslōkattil taṉṉaiyē rakṣakamāka
aṭaiyumāṟu kūṟiyirukkavum, sēṣapūtaṉ iḻiyun tuṟai sēṣiyiṉ tiruvaṭikaḷē yātalāl,
‘kaḻalē vāyttatañcameṉṟu tiṭamatu uraiceytāṉ’ eṉṟār.
“sarvatharman parithyajya – mamegamsaranamvraja” enru appiran saramaslogathil thannaiye ragshagamaga
adaiyumaru kuriyirukkavum, seshaputhan izhiyun thurai seshiyin thiruvadigale yathalal,
‘kazhale vaythathanchamenru thidamathu uraiseythan’ enrar.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Tamil text.]
Tiṭam (tiṭam) = Dṛḍham (firmness/certainty); atu (atu) – an augment (suffix) denoting the material of the word. Celvamuyiruṭampu urittākki (celvamuyiruṭampu urittākki) – the use of a plural subject with a singular predicate is an allowed grammatical license (vaḻuvamaiti).
திடம் = த்ருடம்; அது – பகுதிப்பொருள்விகுதி. செல்வமுயிருடம்பு உரித்தாக்கி – பன்மையொருமை வழுவமைதி.
tiṭam = truṭam; atu – pakutipporuḷvikuti. celvamuyiruṭampu urittākki – paṉmaiyorumai vaḻuvamaiti.
thidam = thrudam; athu – paguthipporulviguthi. selvamuyirudambu urithakki – panmaiyorumai vazhuvamaithi.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Tamil text.]
This (Mathura) is the place of incarnation (Tiruvavatārasthalam) of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Bhagavān; it is also one of the seven cities that grant salvation (Muktitārum Nakaram).
இது – ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணபகவானது திருவவதாரஸ்தலம்; முத்திதரும் நகரமேழனுள் இதுவும்ஒன்று.
itu – srīkiruṣṇapakavāṉatu tiruvavatārastalam; muttitarum nakaramēḻaṉuḷ ituvumoṉṟu.
ithu – srigirushnapagavanathu thiruvavatharasthalam; muthitharum nagaramezhanul ithuvumonru.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Tamil text.]
Some say that the name Mathura came about because it is pleasing to the eye (Kṇṇukku Maturamāyiruttalālum) and because it is the place where the demon named Madhu (matu) was vanquished.
கண்ணுக்கு மதுரமாயிருத்தலாலும், மதுவென்ற அசுரனை யழித்த இடமாதலாலும், இதற்கு மதுரையெனப் பெயர்வந்ததென்பர்.
kaṇṇukku maturamāyiruttalālum, matuveṉṟa acuraṉai yaḻitta iṭamātalālum, itaṟku maturaiyeṉap peyarvantateṉpar.
kannukku mathuramayiruthalalum, mathuvenra asuranai yazhitha idamathalalum, itharku mathuraiyenap peyarvanthathenpar.
Tamil Glossary
[Note: The following list was automatically generated; do not assume transliteration or translation as facts]
மாந்தர்காள்: / māntarkāḷ: "O humans!" (The addressed people, or humanity).
மனிதர்களே: / maṉitarkaḷē: "O people!" (An alternative vocative form of the word for humans/people).
கழலே: / kaḻalē: "Only the holy feet" (Referring to the Lord's sacred feet, which are the sole refuge).
தஞ்சம்: / tañcam: "Refuge/Protector" (That which provides protection).
தொல்லை: / tollai: "Ancient/Old" or "Troubles/Harassment" (The word appears both as an adjective 'பழமையான / paḻamaiyāṉa' and as a noun 'தொல்லைகளினின்று / tollaikaḷiṉiṉṟu' in the text; here it refers to the age/ancient nature of the place or the troubles/afflictions from karma).
செல்வம்: / celvam: "Wealth" (The possessions or riches of the people).
உயிர்: / uyir: "Life/Soul/Spirit" (The animating principle of the body, also referred to as ஆவி / āvi in the second paragraph).
உடம்பு: / uṭampu: "Body" (The physical form).
உடல்: / uṭal: "Body" (Synonym for உடம்பு, / uṭampu, used in the second paragraph).
பொருள்: / poruḷ: "Possession/Material" (Used in the phrase உடல் பொருள் ஆவி, / uṭal poruḷ āvi, meaning one's material possessions).
ஆவி: / āvi: "Soul/Life-breath" (Used as a synonym for உயிர் / uyir in the second paragraph).
உலகத்தார்க்கு: / ulakattārkku: "To the people of the world" (The recipients of the divine teaching).
துறை: / tuṟai: "Path/Way/Course" (The course or path a dependent being should take).
[Note: The following list was automatically generated; do not assume transliteration or translation as facts]
இந்த தமிழ் உரையில் உள்ள சமஸ்கிருத சொற்கள் மற்றும் அவற்றின் விளக்கங்கள் பின்வருமாறு: தஞ்சம் / inta tamiḻ uraiyil uḷḷa camaskiruta coṟkaḷ maṟṟum avaṟṟiṉ viḷakkaṅkaḷ piṉvarumāṟu: tañcam [śaraṇam or rakṣaka (refuge/protector); Tamil Lexicon also gives niścayam (certainty) and pattrukōṭu (support)]: The text explicitly equates 'தஞ்சம் / tañcam' with the protection/refuge offered by the Lord's feet (kālē). It is the proper object of resort/refuge, emphasizing that the Lord's feet are the suitable refuge (rakṣakam).
திடம் / tiṭam [dṛḍha]: A Tamil word derived from the Sanskrit word dṛḍha (often written in Tamil script as thirudam or dhiram). In this context, it means certainty or firmness (referring to the firm instruction/teaching).
த்ருடம் / truṭam [dṛḍha]: This is the explicit Sanskrit form given in the commentary for the Tamil word 'திடம் / tiṭam', meaning firm or certain (used to describe the nature of the instruction given by the Lord).
கர்மம் / karmam [karma]: Refers to action or deeds, particularly the ritualistic or prescribed actions (karma-yoga) considered as one of the spiritual paths (upāyams) to liberation.
ஜ்ஞாநம் / jñānam [jñāna]: Refers to knowledge or wisdom, particularly the path of knowledge (jñāna-yoga) as a spiritual means (upāyam).
பக்தி / pakti [bhakti]: Refers to devotion or loving faith toward God, considered as a spiritual means (upāyam).
ப்ரபத்தி / prapatti [prapatti]: Refers to complete self-surrender or taking refuge in the Lord as the sole means of salvation, considered the ultimate spiritual means (upāyam) in some schools of thought (like the Śrīvaiṣṇava tradition which this commentary appears to be rooted in).
உபாயம் / upāyam [upāya]: Refers to a means or method by which one achieves their aim; here, it refers to the spiritual paths (karma, jñāna, bhakti, prapatti) to attain liberation.
ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ண பகவான் / srīkiruṣṇa pakavāṉ [śrī kṛṣṇa bhagavān]: Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Being (Bhagavān). Śrī is an honorific, Kṛṣṇa is the name of the deity, and Bhagavān means the Adorable/Worshipful Lord.
அர்ப்பணம் / arppaṇam [arpaṇa]: Refers to dedication, offering, or surrender (of one's body, wealth, and soul to the Lord).
ஸர்வதர்மாந் பரித்யஜ்ய – மாமேகம்ஸரணம்வ்ரஜ / sarvatarmān parityajya – māmēkamsaraṇamvraja [sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ēkaṃ śaraṇaṃ vraja]
: This is a direct quote from the Bhagavad Gītā (18.66), known as the Caranam Ślōka (Final Verse). It means: "Forsaking all duties, take refuge in me alone (I will free you from all sins, do not grieve)."
சரமஸ்லோகத்தில் / caramaslōkattil [carama śloka]: In the final or ultimate verse (carama śloka), which is the verse quoted above (sarva-dharmān...), considered the essence of the Bhagavad Gītā.
ஸேஷபூதன் / sēṣapūtaṉ [śeṣa-bhūta]: The dependent being or servitor, referring to the individual soul (jīva) who is eternally subordinate to the Lord (Śeṣin).
ஸேஷி / sēṣi [śeṣin]: The Master or the Principal, referring to the Supreme Lord (God) to whom all other beings (Śeṣa-bhūtas) are subordinate.